Update: SSHRC Online System
We are pleased to announce the application system is now back online for all active funding opportunities except for the SSHRC Doctoral Awards. In accordance with the Service Standards for SSHRC Online Systems, the deadline for the Insight Grants competition has been extended to Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 8:00 p.m. (eastern).
The SSHRC Doctoral Awards competition portal continues to be offline until system updates can be made. We anticipate the Doctoral Awards competition portal will be live on October 5. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.
[ Updated: 2023-09-28 ]
Unaudited Future-Oriented Statement of Operations
For the year ending March 31, 2023
Forecast results 2021-22 | Planned results 2022-23 | |
---|---|---|
Expenses | ||
Funding Social Sciences and Humanities Research and Training |
568,269 | 629,336 |
Institutional support for the indirect costs of research |
426,527 | 427,610 |
Internal Services |
20,400 | 20,808 |
Total Expenses | 1,015,196 | 1,077,754 |
Revenues | ||
Miscellaneous revenues |
95 | 108 |
Total Revenues | 95 | 108 |
Net cost of operations | 1,015,101 | 1,077,646 |
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations.
Notes to the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations (unaudited)
1. Authority and Objectives
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) was established in 1977 by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Act, and is a departmental corporation named in Schedule II to the Financial Administration Act. SSHRC’s purpose is to promote and assist research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities. SSHRC delivers its objectives under three Core Responsibilities, which are described in the Departmental Plan.
SSHRC’s grants, scholarships and operating expenditures are funded by annual, voted budgetary authorities. Employee benefits are funded by statutory authorities.
2. Methodology and Significant Assumptions
The Future-Oriented Statement of Operations has been prepared on the basis of government priorities and departmental plans as described in the Departmental Plan.
The information in the forecast results for fiscal year 2021–22 is based on actual results as at November 30, 2021, and on forecasts for the remainder of the fiscal year. Forecasts have been made for the planned results for fiscal year 2022–23.
The main assumptions underlying the forecasts are as follows:
- SSHRC’s activities will remain substantially the same as in the previous year, with the exception of the new Race Gender and Diversity initiative and the new Canada Biomedical Research Fund, both approved in Budget 2021. Furthermore, the New Frontiers in Research Fund will be expanding to include additional objectives and milestones which will result in higher expenditures.
- Expenses and revenues, including the determination of amounts internal and external to the government, are based on past experience. The general historical pattern is expected to continue.
These assumptions are made as at December 31, 2021.
3. Variations and Changes to the Forecast Financial Information
Although every attempt has been made to forecast final results for the remainder of 2021–22 and for 2022–23, actual results achieved for both years are likely to differ from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.
In preparing this Future-Oriented Statement of Operations, SSHRC has made estimates and assumptions about the future. These estimates and assumptions may differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and assumptions are based on past experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and are continually evaluated.
Factors that could lead to material differences between the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and the historical statement of operations include:
- the timing and the amount of acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment, which may affect gains, losses and amortization expense;
- the implementation of new collective agreements;
- economic conditions, which may affect both the amount of revenue earned and the collectability of accounts receivable;
- other changes to the operating budget, such as new initiatives or technical adjustments later in the fiscal year; and
- the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on SSHRC’s financial results in future periods.
After the Departmental Plan is tabled in Parliament, SSHRC will not be updating the forecasts for any changes in financial resources made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variances will be explained in the Departmental Results Report.
4. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The Future-Oriented Statement of Operations has been prepared using the Government of Canada’s accounting policies in effect for fiscal year 2021–22, and is based on Canadian public sector accounting standards. The presentation and results using the stated accounting policies do not result in any significant differences from Canadian public sector accounting standards.
Significant accounting policies are as follows:
-
a) Expenses
Grants and scholarships (transfer payments) are recognized as an expense in the year in which the entitlement of the recipient has been established, the transfer is authorized, and all eligibility criteria have been met.
Operating expenses are recorded when goods are received or services are rendered, on an accrual basis. Vacation pay and compensatory leave are accrued as the benefits are earned under the respective collective agreement. Services provided without charge by other government departments and agencies for accommodation and the employer’s contribution to the health and dental insurance plans are recorded as operating expenses at their estimated cost.
Expenses also include provisions to reflect changes in the value of assets, including provisions for bad debt on accounts receivable and amortization of tangible capital assets, which is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:
Asset Class Amortization Period Computer hardware 3 years Computer purchased and developed software 5 years Machinery and equipment 5 years Other equipment (including furniture) 7 years Motor vehicles 7 years Leasehold improvements Lesser of the remaining term of lease or useful life of the improvement -
b) Revenues
Revenues are recognized in the period in which the related transactions or the event that gives rise to the revenues occurred. Respendable revenues are revenues provided under a revolving fund or a net-voting authority and are netted against the costs of operations.
Funds received from external parties for specified purposes are recorded upon receipt as deferred revenue. These revenues are recognized in the period in which the related expenses are incurred.
Deferred revenue consists of amounts received in advance of the delivery of goods and rendering of services that will be recognized as revenue in a subsequent fiscal year as it is earned.
Other revenues are recognized in the period the event giving rise to the revenues occurred. Revenues that are non-respendable are not available to discharge the department’s liabilities. Although the deputy head is expected to maintain accounting control, he or she has no authority over the disposition of non-respendable revenues. As a result, non respendable revenues are considered to be earned on behalf of the Government of Canada and are therefore presented as a reduction of the department’s gross revenues.
5. Parliamentary Authorities
SSHRC is financed by the Government of Canada through parliamentary authorities. Financial reporting of authorities provided to SSHRC differs from financial reporting according to generally accepted accounting principles because authorities are based mainly on cash flow requirements. Items recognized in the Future-Oriented Statement of Operations in one year may be funded through parliamentary authorities in prior, current or future years. Accordingly, SSHRC has different net cost of operations for the year on a government funding basis than on an accrual accounting basis. The differences are reconciled in the following tables:
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a) Reconciliation of Net Cost of Operations to Requested Authorities
(in thousands of dollars)Forecast results 2021-22 Planned results 2022-23 Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 1,015,101 1,077,646 Adjustments for items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities: Revenues95 108 Amortization of tangible capital assets(108) (161) Services provided without charge by other government departments(5,716) (5,819) Increase in vacation pay and compensatory leave(73) (53) Increase in employee future benefits(1) (5) Refund of previous years’ expenditures1,685 1,685 Total items affecting net cost of operations but not affecting authorities(4,118) (4,245) Adjustments for items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities: Acquisitions of tangible capital assets1,267 52 Decrease in prepaid expenses(51) - Total items not affecting net cost of operations but affecting authorities(1,216) 52 Requested authorities 1,012,199 1,073,453
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b) Authorities Requested
(in thousands of dollars)Forecast results 2021-22 Planned results 2022-23 Authorities requested: Vote 5—Grants and scholarships970,627 1,029,373 Vote 1—Operating expenditures39,059 39,803 Statutory amounts:Contributions to the employee benefit plan4,303 4,169 Spending of revenues pursuant to subsection 4(2) of the SSHRC Act95 108 1,014,084 1,073,453 Less:Lapsed: Operating(1,885) - Total authorities requested 1,012,199 1,073,453
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